Circular knitting machine of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type



Jaflr4, E SPIER L CIRCULAR'KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE I Filed Nov. 5, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 JWM iNVENTOR Jan. 4, 1938. E. SPIERS ET AL CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed Nov. 5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 4, 1938. I E. SPIERS ET AL 2,104,625

I CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed NOV. 5, 1936 I 6 SheecsSheei; 3

INVENTORS /naf M/u iMJM IE. SPIERS ET AL 2,104,626 CIRCULAR KN TTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIAL-LY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Jan. 4, 1938.

6 -Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 5, 1956 zf wwm Jan. 4, 1938. E. SPIERS ET AL 2,104,626

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed NOV. 5, 1936 -6 Sheets-Sheet 5 b LI INVENTORS aha/WW w Jan. 4, 1938. E. SPIERS ET AL 2,104,626

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYLINDER TYPE Filed Nov. 5, 1936 e Sheets-Sheet e INVENTORS Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE OF THE DOUBLE AXIALLY OPPOSED NEEDLE CYL- INDER TYPE Ernest Spiers and John Cyril Leicester, England, assignors Herbert Hui-d, to Wildt and Company Limited, Leicester, England, a British company 14 Claims.

This invention relates to circular knitting machines of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type, and has reference to those furnished with double ended needles operated by sliders and means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, such machines being thereby adapted to produce plain, ribbed and purl fabric.

There is at present a demand for patterned knitted fabric for outerwear, particularly garment lengths for pullovers, slip-overs, jumpers, jackets and the like having rib borders with welts and a patterned body'portion or top. In order to meet this demand it is necessaryto produce fabrics with a diversity of stitch effects.

The present invention is therefore mainly intended for application to machines of the type aforesaid which are adapted to produce body fabric and, consequently, are known as body machines, but the invention is not to be regarded as limited in this respect as it may find a useful application to machines of the same type which are adapted to produce seamless hose, half-hose, socks and like articles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the type specified improved in such a way as to enable knitted fabric with so-called honeycomb effects to be produced, an important desideratum being to produce on such machines garment lengths having rib borders with welts, and body portions or tops with honeycomb effects. The improved machine may, however, also be adapted to produce any one or more of the following, viz. other fancy tuck effects, fancy rib and purl effects, so-called ripple effects, striping effects, and patterns produced by having stitches of different colours in individual courses of knitting, with or without rib borders, or interposed bands of rib or plain fabric so that an exceptional diversity of stitch effects can be obtained. 7

In a broad aspect the invention comprehends a machine of the type concerned having in association with one of the cylinders, for example the plain cylinder, means adapted to enable prearranged needles to take up a tucking position and the remainder to take up a non-knitting position at the same feeder or feeders, together with means for causing all of the needles periodically to clear and knit. The invention may be applied to single feeder as well as multi-feeder machines of the type concerned.

According to one manner of carrying the. invention into practice there are provided from one side to the other of the feeder in a single feeder machine, or between feeders irra two or more feeder machine, co-extensive e. g. substantially parallel tucking and non-knitting tracks for the needle operating sliders, or jacks associated with the said sliders, means in advance of these tracks for dividing the sliders or jacks so that prearranged sliders or jacks are caused to take the tucking track, and the remainder the non-knit:- ting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and non-knitting positions respectively at the feeder, or feeders, or prearranged feeders as the case may be, and means for action upon all of the sliders or jacks periodically for the purpose of causing the needles to clear and knit at the feeder, or one or more of the feeders, in order. to produce the effect required in the knitted fabric. It will of course be understood that in a machine having two or more feeders, the tracks and associated dividing means are repeated as often as required, depending on the number of feedersprovided. Accordingly when tracks are hereinafter referred to this is to be understood as meaning either the tracks in a single feeder machine or, where the context so admits, the tracks between one, feeder and the other, or any two adjacentfeeders, in a machine having two or more feeders.

The means for, dividing the sliders or jacks for the purpose described may be of any suitable form, but it is preferred to adopt a pattern controlling unit or device adapted to act selectively on the sliders or jacks. Conveniently a patterning unit of the obliquely disposed rotary wheel or drum type is employed so that selected sliders or jacks are moved endwise inorder to cause same to take'one track while the others are permitted to take the other track. The said unit is preferably of the form having slider or jack engaging bits movable into and out of an operative position either manually, for example as described in the specification of British vPat'ent'No. 430,440, or automatically, for example as described in the specification of British Patent No. 282,904, so as to enable a diversity of slider or jack selections to be made. It will be understood that in a multifeeder machine there are as many patterning units or devices as feeders.

There may be provided in association with the aforesaid tracks a cam adapted to be rendered operative periodically for operation on the sliders or jacks which, after division, would be otherwise caused to follow the tucking track, so that further movement is imparted to said sliders or jacks to cause the corresponding needles to take up a clearing position instead of the tucking position. Another cam also adapted to be rendered operative periodically may be provided for action either upon the sliders or jacks which, after division,

take the non-knitting track, so that said sliders or jacks are operated to cause the corresponding needlestoitakel-upeither a tucking ore-clearing position, or upon all'of. the said jacks :orfsliders so that all of the needles are caused to clear and knit. Another cam may also be provided for action upon the sliders or jacks operated by the first mentioned cam so that the-corresponding needles are transferred to the opposite cylinder. In this way provision is made for changing from knitting of one character to knittingroftanother character so that a diversity of stitch; eifects is lobtained. Thus by appropriate settings rof :the umachine pieces of fabric or garment lengths having respectively different stitch efifects-canibe produced, or by making appropriate changesaat intervals .in the production of a piece of fabric or a garment length, e. g. between feeders in a machine having .two ;.or more feeders, .a-variety of astitch effects .-may-.; be;,produced, in. one-and the. same piece of fabric .or garment-length.

The aforesaid. cams. may. be. .movably. mounted and automatically. operated; in. any conventional .mannerapplicable.to. circular knitting'machines, such as ..-by :mea-ns ..of.. intemiediate levers and linkage from -a.-timing. chain .or...drum, .or from a. cam ringjrotating. with the-rotary parts of the machine. 7

It .is ;.preferred .to .provide jacks. in-association with theneedle operating. sliders .in. the. appropriatecylinder. and .to provide. the tracks for. the jacks in ...an appropriate portion -of the .corr'espondingv cam .box, .or in. aniauxiliary. cam:.box, and means for actionsselectivelyaupon .butts on the :jacks in .order 1 to.;cause selected .jacks .to follow .the tucking .track and 1. the remainder to follow the .nomknitting .track .when required. Furthermore. it..is mainlytheintention to carry the invention. into ,practice' in. connection with the. plaincylinderotthe machine so. that. selected plainmeedlesean be caused..to tuck while -the remainder do not f.knit, ..and.-ali ,-of theneedles; in the plaincylinderare. .caused to. clear andfknit as and when re quiredJ In the accompanyingdrawings,

.Figurel .is; an elevational .view, shownmore or .less.d.iagrammatically, ..of .the :head of the said machine.

. Figures 2-6 ..are views .each representing .a development. of thecam systemsof. the machine at two feeds anddllustrating various .camnarrangements which may be .1 adopted -to ;.produce the ,various effects .hereinaftenspecified.

(In the example .of ithednvention now .to .:be described jackssuchas l..(see,-F5gures;2-5) each having-a :single but la thereon are,provided underthe needleoperating sliders sucheas 2.in the qbottom cylinderx3 of the; machine andin the lower ;portion.,of the ,bottomcam box .4 and ,adjacent each feederare .two tracks 5 and. 6 which are.disposedoneabove -the other substantially parallel to each other .and, for. the major .portions. of their lengths, .cxtend horizontally but at the far end (in relation -to .thedirection .of the .rotatiomo-f .the needlessuchas 11) are .upwardly .diverted .aseat 25:1...and v,iic. The .height of .the horizontal ,portion .of .the upper track .6 1S2=S11Ch that .needles corresponding with jacks having their. butts in..this track are-disposed at the mun-knitting height indicated at llxubut. at the upwardly diverted endafia the. heightis. such that .the jacks .caused to ,gpass along the track are raised. to position .the corresponding, needles at tucking height indicated at Y. The horizontal portion of the lower track 5 is, of course, at a lower level, but at the upwardly diverted end 5a reaches a height at which jacks caused to pass along this-trackare raised to wposition :the corresponding needles at the anon-knitting height aforesaid. Located at the entrance to each of these pairs of tracks 5, G, is a patterning unit such as 8 adapted for action selectively on the ja'ckbuttsla,and =in advance of this unit is a -'cam-9whereby--all :of the jacks such as I are positioned -ata common level i. e. the level of the lower tracki. As will be seen, the patterning run-it." is vobliquely disposed so that jacks l cngagedlby the unit are raised to bring their butts tof'the entrance of the upper track 6 so rthatflthese butts,.pa s s..along this track while the '..butts-.-missedlby the patterning unit are permitted to pass along the lower track 5. The result is that the sliders such as 2 corresponding touthe'jacks inthe..upper trackhli .pass. through the -feeder .adjacent .to .the upwardly:..diverted .ends -ia and l6a .of' the. tracks, with .the needles 'Lat .tuckingheight. .Y. and .therremainder of the sliders .pass through..the.same (feeder with the needlesat ...the.. non-.knittingheight .X. g

A somewhat similararrangementto. that just described may,.- of. course, .be .applied to atsingle feeder machinelin which. case one pair .of tracks only wouldibeprovideiadjacent the feeder and the.sliderscorresponding to they jacksv in the upper ltra'ck -wou1d passlthrough .thefeeder with the needles; at. tucking: height while. the remain der of the sliders woiil'd..also pass through. the single feeder withtheneedlesat a non-knitting height. The upward diversion ,of each v pair oftra'cks is provided fforlbyappropriately .incli-ned Hedges 41 1, 421, i4c .and 421. at 3the.far en'ds of thesaid tracks. There is, however, adjacent to l the .upwardly diverteden'dsof each pair of tracks'a verticallymovable cam l0 which occupies the low position indicatedinFiguresi3 and .4 when the selectedneedles are required to occupy the tucking position andthe remaining. needles are required .to occupy 'the non;-knitting position when passing the adjacent feeder. .At the upward'limit ofits movement this .cam occupies a position indicated in vFiguref2', this position being sucnthatjacks l leaving "the tracks .5 and .6 are all raised to position their needles '1. at clearing height (see Z, Figure 2) .preparatory to passing the. feeder'so that, the butts, such as 2a of the. needle operatingsliders 2 .are acted upon bytheistitch cam H .at'the feeder. and the needlesare'caused. to knit. ;In this way some needles can be caused togpass theifeeders or two or more of the feeders at tucking. heightand' the remainderat non knitting height and'then all of the needles canbe caused to.knit at a'prearranged feeder or feedersby .locating the appropriate movablecam orcams, such as l 0,1in'thei highest position. For example,.in a'four feeder machine some'of the needles may be caused to pass three of the feeders at tucking height, the remaining needles canbe'caused to pass the same feeders at .non knitting height,. andall of .the .needles can be caused to knit. at the fourth feeder at every revolution of the machine.

I.'In.,a single feedermachine the sameneedles maybe caused to pass the feederat tucking heightandthe. remainder at non-knitting height for; a-re quired.number.of revolutions of the nee-. dle cylinders, and I then f .by moving the -single verticallymovable .cam to its highest position all of the needles can be caused to knit at the feeder.

To enable the character of the knitting to be further diversified a radially movable cam I2 is provided: at the entrance to the tucking, i. e. upper, track 6 for opening and closing this track so that by closing the latter selected needles can be caused to clear and subsequently knit. Another similarly movable cam I3 is provided beyond and at a higher level than the cam I2 for the purpose of effecting transference of selected needles to the top cylinder I4.

In the cam arrangement illustrated in Figure 2, the cam I2 is in, the cam I3 in, and the cam IIJ right up, to produce reverse knitting. With this arrangement the butts Ia of the jacks I engaged by the patterning unit, i. e. the butt-s of selected jacks are prevented by the cam I2 from entering the tucking track 6 and are engaged by'the cam I3 with the result that the corresponding (selected) needles are transferred to the top needle cylinder of the machine there to be caused to knit at the feeder by engagement with the upper stitch cam I I. The path of the butts Id of the selected jacks and the paths of the butts, such as 2a and 2b, of the corresponding needle operating sliders 2 are indicated by full line arrows. Those butts, such as Ia, missed by the patterning unit 8 pass along the lower track 5, up the inclined edge 4d and onto the cam Ill so that the unselected jacks are raised to position their needles at clearing height (see Z) preparatory to passing the adjacent feeder so that the butts 2a of the corresponding needle operating sliders are acted upon by the stitch cam H at the feeder and their needles are caused to knit. The paths of the butts of the unselected jacks and of the butts of the corresponding sliders are indicated by dotted arrows in Figure 2.

The arrangement shown in Figure 3 produces tucking and non-knitting (honeycomb fabric). As will be seen, the cams I2 and I3 are out and the cam Ii] is right down, with the result that the butts of selected jacks pass along the tucking track 5 and up the inclined edge 4b thereby causing the associated needles to pass the feed and take yarn in a tuck position while the butts of unselected jacks pass along the lower track and up the inclined edge 4d, the butts of all the jacks, when they leave the tracks, passing straight across to the next cam 9 where they are lowered and positioned at a common level prior to selection as they app-roach the next feeder. In this and the succeeding three figures of the drawings the paths of the butts on the jacks l and the needle operating sliders 2 are indicated in a similar manner to the various paths indicated in Figure 2. v

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, cam I2 is in, cam I3 out and cam II) right down for clearing and non-knitting and when employing this cam arrangement yarns of different colourswill be supplied at adjacent feeders to produce two colour jacquard effects in individual courses. This arrangement, moreover, may also ,be employed at three or four feeds for the production of jacquard effects in the appropriate number of colours.

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be seen that cam I2 is in, cam I3 out and cam I half way up to produce clearing and tucking effects, and by adopting the arrangement shown in Figure 6, wherein cams I2 and I3 are in and cam I0 half way up, selective transferring and tucking eifects can be produced.

It will be understood that the machine has cam systems of conventional form to enable it to knit either rib or plain fabric, and welts to be produced in the ordinary way so that rib borders with welts and/or plain areas can be produced as and when required. In a multi-feeder machine the patterning units and transfer cams may be so arranged and operated as to enable purely purl designs to be produced as the result of selective needle transference.

The clearing cam, I in the plain knitting ca system at each feeder of the machine shown (or at the feeder of a single feeder machine) is preferably made radially movable so that it can be withdrawn to an inoperative position to enable the sliders suchas 2 to assume a non-knitting position when required after leaving the stitch cam I I. If the cam I5 is in itsinward position, all the needles are raised to clearing height and consequently knit at the following feed, independentlyof any selective action upon the jacks. In this connection it may be mentioned that in the specific example of the invention herein described the jacks I which are permitted to pass along a lower track 5 are not in contact or engagement with their sliders 2, so that the latter remain in the non-knitting position unless the said jacks are acted upon by cam I0, whereas the selected jacks are brought into contact with their sliders as the result of the selective action so that these sliders are ultimately raised to tucking position or further if the jacks are actuated by cam I2, or cams I2 and I3 or II) as hereinbefore mentioned. In Figure 2 there is indicated by means'of plain dotted lines the paths which are taken by the butts 2a and 2b of thesliclers when the cam I5 is in its operative position. ,At-such times a similar radially movable cam I5 isarranged to be in so that the top sliders, such as that shown at 2', will transfer the needles I to the bottom sliders 2.

The cam II] is movable up and down between parallel guiding edges 4c in the bottom cam box 4 while the various radially movable cams herein mentioned are of more or less conventional form and adapted to be operated in any well known manner.

For rendering the vertically movable cam III and the radially movable cams I2, I3 and I5 operative and inoperative at the appropriate times any convenient means may be employed, although for this purpose it is preferred to provide on the top plate I8 of the machine a cam ring IBa fur, nished with a series of cam pieces (not shown) respectively for the cams to be controlled, and intermediate connections of the character shown in Figure 1. The connections for the cam III comprise a lever I9 mounted on a spindle 20 carried by a bearing, such as ZI, said lever having associated therewitha tail-piece 22 for coeoper ation with one of the cam pieces on the ring I8a, and a link 23 connecting the lever I9 with a convenient part formed or provided on the cam II).

The connections for the radially movable cams are similar and each comprise a lever 24 mounted to pivot in a bearing, such as 2 I, and adapted to be rocked from the cam ring Ida, and a link 25 connecting the lever 24 with another lever 26 which is adapted, when turned in onedirection, to withdraw the corresponding radially movable cam and to render this cam operative when turned in the opposite direction.

What weclaim then is;-- 1.-A circular knitting machine of the double axially opposed needle cylinder type equipped withdouble ended needles, associated instrumentalities for operating the needles, and meansfor transferring tneedles mm :one 1- cylinder to the other, 'which includes inxeombination and in association with: one of "the cylinders, means'for actionon thesaid instrumentalities for dividing thesame and causing prearranged needles to'take up a tucking position andthe remainder totake up a non-knitting position, and periodicallyoperated means for actionon thenee'dle-operating instrumentalities whereby after division of the needles, those which take up a tucking "position, as well as those which take up the non-knitting position, are caused to clear and 'knit.

2. A circular knitting machine-comprising, in combination, plain and rib needle cylinders axially opposed, double-ended needles slidable in Said needle cylinders, instrumentalities in said cylindersfor operating the needles, means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam systems associatedwith said cylinders, one o'f said cam-systems including co-extensive tuckingand non-knitting tracks for the'needle operating instrumentalities in oneof the cylinders, means in advance of the'tucking and nonknitting-tracks for dividingthe needle operating instrumentalities-in thelast mentioned cylinder sothat prearranged instrumentalities are caused to take the tucking track andthe remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needlesare-causedto take up tucking and nonknitting positions respectively, and means' for action periodically-upon all the needle'operating instrumentalities in 'the said cylinder, for the purpose of causing the associated ne edles'to clear and knit. g

I 3. A circular knitting machine "comprising, in combination, plain-and rib needle cylinders axial- 1y opposed, double-ended'needles slidable-in said needle cylinders,instrumentalities in said cylinders for operating the needles, cam systems associated withthe said cylinders,one of said cam systemsincluding co-extensive tucking and nonknitting tracks for the needle operating instrumentalities in one of the cylinders, a pattern controlled unit or-device disposed in advance of the tucking and non-knitting tracks and adapted to act selectively onthe "needle operating instrumentalities in the last mentionedcylinder-so that prearranged instrumentalities are caused to take the tucking track-and the remainder the non-' knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tuckingandnon-knitting positions respectively, and means for action periodically upon all the needle operating instrumentalities in the'said cylinder, for the purpose or causing the associated needles to clear-and knit.

'4. A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, plain and-rib-needle cylinders -axially opposed, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, instrumentalities in said cylinders "for operating'the needles, means 'for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam systemsassociated with said cylinders,

one of said cam systems including co-extensive tucking and non-knitting tracks for the needle operating instrumentalities in one of the cylinders, means in advance of the tucking and non-' knitting tracks for dividing the needle operating instrumentalities in the last mentioned cylinder so that prearranged instrumentalities are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knittingtrack, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to takeup-tucking and nonknitting positions respectively; and a camadapted to 'be rendered operative periodically for action at predetermined times upon I those .needle operthat the said instrumentalities'are operated to cause the corresponding needles to take up either a tucking or a clearingposition and for action atother timesupon all'io'f the said instrumentalities-sothat the associated needles are caused to clear and knit.

55A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, plain and ribneedle cylinders axially-opposed, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, instrumentalities in said cylinders for operating the needles, means for transferring needles fromone cylinder to the other, cam systems associated with said cylinders, one ofsaidcam systems including co-extensive tucking and non knitting tracksfor the needle operating instrumentalities in oneof the cylinders, means in advance ofthe tucking and nonknittingtracks for dividing'the needle operating instrumentalities in the last mentioned cylinder so'that prearranged instrumentalities are caused to takethe tucking track andvthe remainder the non-knitting track,'whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take uptucking and-nonknitting'positions respectively, a cam associated with'the tucking and non-knitting tracks, said cam being adapted to be rendered operative periodically for operation on those needle operating instrumentalities in the said cylinderwhich, after division, would be otherwise caused to follow the tucking track, so that further movement is imparted to'said instrumentalities to cause the corresponding needles to take up a clearing position instead of a tucking position, and means for action periodically' upon all the needle operating instrumentalities in the said cylinder for the purpose of causing the associated needles to clear and knit.

6. 'A circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, plain and rib'needle cylinders axially opposed, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, instrumentalities insaid cylinders for operating the needles, cam systems associated-with said cylinders, one of said cam systems including co-extensive tucking and nonknitting tracks for the needle operating instrumentalities in one of the cylinders, means in advance of the tucking and non-knitting tracks for dividing the needleoperating instrumentalities in the las'tmentioned cylinder so that prearranged instrumentalitiesa're caused to take the tucking track and'the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and non-knitting positions respectively, a cam associated with the tucking and non-knitting tracks, said cam' being adapted to be rendered operative periodically for operation on those needle operating instrumentalities in the said' cylinder which, after division, would be otherwise caused to follow the tucking track, so that further movement islimparted to said instrumentalities to cause the corresponding needles to take up-a clearing positioninstead of a tuckingposition,-a'further'cam adapted to be rendered operative-periodically'for action upon the needle operating instrumentalities operated by the first mentioned cam so that the corresponding needles are transferred to the opposite cylinder, and means'for'action periodically upon all the needle operating instrumentalities in the first mentioned cylinder'for the purpose of.- causing all the needles in said cylinder to clear and knit.

7. A circular knitting machinecomprisingin combination, plain and ribneedle cylinders axially opposed, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, instrumentalities in said cylinders for operating the needles, cam systems associated with said cylinders, one of said cam systems including co-extensive tucking and nonknitting tracks for the needle operating instrumentalities in one of the cylinders, means in advance of the tucking and non-knitting tracks for dividing the needle operating instrumentalities in the last mentioned cylinder so that prearranged instruinentalities are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and non-knitting positions respectively, a cam associated with the tucking and non-knitting tracks, said cam being adapted to be rendered operative periodically for operation on those needle operating instrumentalities in the said cylinder which, after division, would be otherwise caused to follow the tucking track, so that further movement is imparted to said instrumentalities to cause the corresponding needles to take up a clearing position instead of a tucking position, a further cam adapted to be rendered operative periodically for action upon the needle operating instrumentalities operated by the first mentioned cam so that the corresponding needles are transferred to the opposite cylinder, and a still further cam adapted to be rendered operative periodically for action at predetermined times upon those needle operating instrumentalities in the first mentioned cylinder which, after division, take the non-knitting track,

so that the said instrumentalities are operated to cause the corresponding needles to take up either a tucking or a clearing position and for action at other times upon all of the said instrumentalities so that the associated needles are caused to clear and knit.

8. A multiple feeder circular knitting machine comprising, in' combination, superposed rotary plain and rib needle cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, sliders in the cylinders for operating said needles, jacks each having a butt thereon provided under the needle operating sliders in the plain cylinder, means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam boxes associated with the V needle cylinders, the cam box associated with the plain cylinder having associated therewith tucking and non-knitting tracks for reception of the said butts on the slider operating jacks, said tracks being provided between feeders and disposed one above the other in parallel relation and extending horizontally for the major portions of their lengths but at the far end (in relation to the direction of rotation of the needles) being upwardly diverted, the height of the horizontal portion of the upper (tucking) track being such that needles corresponding with jacks having their butts in this track are disposed at a nonknitting height but at the upwardly diverted end needles are caused to take up tucking and nonknitting positions respectively at the same feeders, and, in association with the appropriate cam box, means for action periodically upon all the jacks in the plain cylinder for the purpose of causing the corresponding needles to clear and knit. 1

' 9. A multiple feeder circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, superposed rotary plain and rib needle cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, sliders in the cylinders for operating said needles, jacks each having a butt thereon provided under the needle operating sliders in the plain cylinder, means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam boxes associated with the needle cylinders, the cafn box associated with the plain cylinder having associated therewith tucking and non-knittlng'tracks for reception of the said butts on the slider operating jacks, said tracks being provided between feeders and disposed one above the other in parallel relation and extending horizontally for the major portions of their lengths but at the far end (in relation to the direction of rotation of the needles) being upwardly diverted, the height of the horizontal portion of the upper (tucking) track being such that needles corresponding with jacks having their butts in this track are disposed at a non-knitting height but at the upwardly diverted end the height being such that the jacks caused to pass along the track are raised to position the corresponding needles at tucking height whereas the upwardly diverted end of the lower track reaches a height at which jacks caused to pass along this track are raised to position the corresponding needles at a non-knitting height, means at the entrance of the tucking and nonknitting tracks for dividing the jacks in the plain cylinder so that prearranged jacks are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and nonknitting positions respectively at the same feeders, and a vertically movable cam disposed adjacent to the upwardly diverted ends of the tucking and non-knitting tracks, said cam being adapted to be rendered operative periodically for action at predetermined times on those jacks which, after division, take the non-knitting track, so that said jacks are operated to cause the corresponding needles to take up either a tucking or a clearing position and for action at other times upon all of the jacks in the plain cylinder so that the associated needles are caused to clear and knit.

' 10. A multiple feeder circular knitting machine comprising} in combination, superposed rotary plain and rib needle cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, sliders in the cylinders for operating said needles, jacks each having a butt thereon provided under the needle operating sliders in the plain cylinder, means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam boxes associated with the needle cylinders, the cam box associated with the plain cylinder having associated therewith tucking and non-knitting tracks for reception of the said butts on the slider operating jacks, said tracks being provided between feedersand disposed one above the other in parallel relation and extending horizontally for the major portions of their lengths but at the far end (in relation to the direction of rotation of the needles) being upwardly diverted, the height of'the horizontal portion ofthe upper (tucking) track being such that needles octarerraised to position the corresponding needles at tucking height whereas the upwardly diverted end o f -the lower track reaches a height at which jackscaused to pass along this track areraised to position the corresponding needles at anonknitting height, means-at the entrance of the tucking and nonekm'tting tracks for dividing the jacks in the plain cylinder so that prearranged jacks are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby thecorresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and non-knitting positionsirespectively at the same feeders, a radially movable camat the entrance to, the tucking track: for opening and closing this track, said cam beingadapted to be rendered operative periodically for operation on those jacks'which, after division, would be otherwise caused to followthe tucking track, so thatfurther movement is imparted to said instrumentalities tocause the corresponding needles totake up a clearing position instead of a tucking position, and, in association with the appropriate cam box, means 'for action periodically upon allthe jacks in the plain cylinder for the purpose of causing the corresponding needles, to;clear and knit.

11. A multiple feeder circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, superposed rotary v plain and rib needle cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, sliders in the cylinders for operating-said needles, jacks each having a butt thereon provided under the needle operating sliders in the plain cylinder, cam boxes'associatedwith-the needle cylinders, the cam box associated with-'theplain cylinder having associated therewith tucking and non-knittingtracks for reception of the said butts=on the slider operating jacks,- said tracks beingprovided between feeders and disposed one abovethe other in parallel relation and extending horizontally forthe'major portions of their lengths but at the far end (in-relation-to the direction of rotation of the needles) being, upwardly 'diverted, the heightof the horizontal portion of the upper (tucking)-track being;such' that needles. corresponding-with jacks having their butts in thisitrack are disposedat a non-knitting heightbut'at the upwardly diverted "end the height being such that the jacks caused to pass along the: track" are raised to position the corresponding needles at tucking height whereas. the upwardly diverted end of the lower track reaches a height at which'jacks caused'to passwalong thisgtrack. are raised to position "the corresponding needlesatiagnon-knitting height, means at the entrance of the tucking and non-knitting tracksjfor dividingihejacksin the plain cylinder so that pre-' arranged jacks are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are causedto take uptucking and non-knitting positions respectively at the same feeders, a radially movable. cam at the entrance to the tuckingtrack for opening and closing this track, saidcam being adapt- .ed to be rendered operative periodically'for op eration on those jacks which; afterdivision, would be otherwise caused-to follow the tucking track, so that, further movement is imparted.

to said instrumentalities to cause' the corre-; sponding rneedles to take upa-clearing position instead'of a -,tucking position, another -;radially movable. cam" provided beyond ,?and'-- at a higher:

level than the firstimentioned radially, movablecam andadapted to berendered operative pe- 'riodically for action upon'the jacksoperatedby.

said'first mentioned radially movable cam so thatthe corresponding needles are transferred to the opposite cylinder, and, in association with the appropriate cam .box, means for action-periodically uponall the jacksin the plain cylinder:

for the purpose of causing the corresponding. needles v to clear and knit.

12. A multiplefeedercircular knitting machine. comprising, in combination, superposed: rotary plain and rib needlecylinders, double-ended needles slidable .insaid needle cylinders, sliders in they cylinders; for-operating said needles; Jacks each having a, butt thereon provided: under: the: needle operating: sliders in the plain cylinder, cam boxes associated with the needle, cylinders; the cam box associated withtheplaincylinder having associated therewith'tucking and non-knit:

'tingtracksfor reception of the said butts ,on the:

slider operating, jacks, saidtracks being t-provided; betweerrfeeders and. disposed: one above, the. other in parallel relation and extending horizontally for the major'portions of their lengths but at the far end: (in relation-to the direction of; rotation of the needles) I being upwardly diverted; the height-of-the horizontal portion of thelupper (tucking) track-.ibeinggsuch that needles ,corre-- sponding with jacks having theirrbuttsinthis: track are disposed at aiinon-knittingheight but at the upwardly diverted end-the height being, such that the jacks causedto pass alongtheztrack, are raised to position, the=-correspondingneedlesat tuckingheight whereas the-upwardly diverted: end of thevlower track reaches va height-at'twhich.

jacks caused to pass-along this track are raised to position the corresponding needles at1a:non.-, knitting, height; means at the: entrance xot the tucking and non-knitting.tracksxfor dividing the; jacks in, the plain cylinder so that prearrangedjacks are caused to, take the tucking, track: and

the remainder the non-knittingtrack, whereby: the correspondingmeedles are" caused tostake up; tucking; and: non-knitting; positions respectively. at the same feeders, vagradiallymovable camp. at:

r the entranceto. the tucking track for-opening and closingtthis track, .said cam: beingyadaptedzto. be: rendered operative periodicallylfor operationzon; those jacks which,:after: division; would be other: wise. caused to. fol1ow=theJtuckirig track; so that further movement is impartedito said'rln'strumene talitiesto *cause the" corresponding;- needless, to take up a clearing position i instead 'tofi a atucking" position;- another radiallyrmovable camaprovided beyond :and aha-higher level than'thafirstmem. tioned radially movable. canr and adapted-to; be"

rendered ioperative periodically lifQl': :action: upon' the jacks operated by"v said-z mentioned Ira-- dially movable cam so that the corresponding needles are transferred-to the opposite cylinder; and-a vertically movable cam disposed adjacent: to 'thesupwardly diverted-ends of the tucking and: non-knitting; tracks, said cam: being adapted stol be :-rendered operative periodically for action at? predetermined times on those jacks which,aaten division; take the inon-knitting'trachvso :that' said: jacks ;are operated to cause the. corresponding needles-to take up either: a tucking position'and for: action atother :times 'uponall of; the jacks. in the plainV-cyli-nderso thatzthe asso. elated needlestare caused-to :.clear, and-:kniti- 13. A multiple feeder circularknitting machine comprising, inycombination, superposed rotary:

orjaclearing plain and rib needle cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, sliders in the cylinders for operating said needles, Jacks each having a butt thereon provided under the needle operating sliders in the plain cylinder, means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam boxes associated with the needle cylinders, the cam box associated with the plain cylinder having associated therewith tucking and non-knitting tracks for reception of the said butts on the slider operating jacks, said tracks being provided between feeders and disposed one above the other in parallel relation and extending horizontally for the major portions of their lengths but at the far end (in relation to the direction of rotation of the needles) being upwardly diverted, the height of the horizontal portion of the upper (tucking) track being such that needles corresponding with jacks having their butts in this track are disposed at a non-knitting height but at the upwardly diverted end the height being such that the jacks caused to pass along the track are raised to position the corresponding needles at tucking height whereas the upwardly diverted end of the lower track reaches a height at which jacks caused to pass along this track are raised to position the corresponding needles at a nonknitting height, an obliquely disposed patterning unit located at the entrance to the tucking and non-knitting tracks, said unit being adapted for action selectively on the jack butts for dividing the jacks so that prearranged jacks are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and non-knitting positions respectively at the feeders, a cam in advance of said patterning unit whereby all of the jacks are positioned at a common level, i. e. the level of the non-knitting track, and, in association with the appropriate cam box, means for action periodically upon all the jacks in the plain cylinder for the purpose of causing the corresponding needles to clear and knit.

14. A multiple feeder circular knitting machine comprising, in combination, superposed rotary plain and rib needle cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said needle cylinders, sliders in p the cylinders for operating said needles, jacks each having a butt thereon provided under the needle operating sliders in the plain cylinder, means for transferring needles from one cylinder to the other, cam boxes associated with the needle cylinders, said boxes having therein knitting cam systems including stitch cams and the cam box associated with the plain cylinder having associated therewith tucking and non-knitting tracks for reception of the said butts on the slider operating jacks, said tracks being provided between feeders and. disposed one above the other in parallel relation and extending horizontally for the major portions of their lengths but at the far end (in relation to the direction of rotation of the needles) being upwardly diverted, the height of the horizontal portion of the upper (tucking) track being such that needles corresponding with jacks having their butts in this track are disposed at a non-knitting height but at the upwardly diverted end the height being such that the jacks caused to pass along the track are raised to position the corresponding needles at tucking height whereas the upwardly diverted end of the lower track reaches a height at which jacks caused to pass along this track are raised to position the corresponding needles at a nonknitting height, means at the entrance of the tucking and non-knitting tracks for dividing the jacks in the plain cylinder so that prearranged jacks are caused to take the tucking track and the remainder the non-knitting track, whereby the corresponding needles are caused to take up tucking and non-knitting positions respectively at the same feeders, means in association with the appropriate cam box for action periodically upon all the jacks in the plain cylinder for the purpose of causing the corresponding needles to clear and knit and, in the plain knitting cam system, movable cam means to enable the needle operating sliders to assume a non-knitting position when required after leaving the stitch cam.

ERNEST SPIERS. JOHN CYRIL HERBERT HURD. 

